America Makes is building a repository for educational content in the area of additive manufacturing (AM) and is asking educators and industry professionals who have already developed curricula to submit it for possible inclusion in the resource repository. Content may be targeted toward any educational level including K-12, vocational and technical education, community colleges, universities, and on the job training. Submitters of high-quality curricula chosen for inclusion in the repository will be awarded a one year Silver Level Membership in America Makes. Multiple awards are available and anticipated for this Challenge. Current America Makes members are also eligible for award in the form of equivalent credit toward future membership fees.

This Theoretical Challenge requires submission of course content and a written description. Content in a wide variety of forms will be accepted.

Overview

This America Makes Challenge is seeking a wide variety of educational content in the area of additive manufacturing (AM) for inclusion in a resource repository to be shared with other members of America Makes. AM is relatively new but aspects of it are being taught in settings running all the way from K-12 schools to universities to professional development courses. Educators often have to recreate the wheel in developing these courses because they don’t have access to where current content lives. America Makes is not seeking new content developed for this Challenge but rather submission of existing content currently used for educating students or employees about AM. Content may be an entire stand-alone course, a short (six course-hour minimum) AM module within a longer course, or even content integrated within other course content.

The awards for this Challenge are Silver Level Memberships in America Makes for one year, as described on https://americamakes.us/membership/become-a-member. Membership in America Makes gives you access to all other winning curricula as well as the additive manufacturing and 3D printing industry's thought leaders and innovators. Members receive significant additional benefits, including access to valuable intellectual property, technical presentations, project calls, and much more.

This is a Theoretical Challenge that requires course content and a written description to be submitted. The Challenge award will be contingent upon evaluation of the content by the Seeker. If multiple submissions from eligible entities meet all the Solution Requirements, multiple awards will be made at the sole discretion of the Seeker.

To receive an award, the Solvers will not be required to transfer any Intellectual Property (IP) rights to the Seeker. In accordance with the terms of the America Makes membership agreement, the Solvers will grant the America Makes membership access to utilize submitted course content. Please contact Tiffany Westbay at tiifany.westbay@ncdmm.org for more information.

Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on August 7, 2017.

Late submissions will not be considered.

ELIGIBILITY

To receive an award, the Solver or Solver’s organization must be eligible for, and accept, membership in America Makes. Current America Makes members are also eligible for award in the form of equivalent credit toward future membership fees. Please see https://americamakes.us/membership/become-a-member for membership requirements.

ABOUT THE SEEKER

America Makes is the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute. As the national accelerator for additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing (3DP), America Makes is the nation’s leading and collaborative partner in AM and 3DP technology research, discovery, creation, and innovation.

Structured as a public-private partnership with member organizations from industry, academia, government, non-government agencies, and workforce and economic development resources, we are working together to innovate and accelerate AM and 3DP to increase our nation’s global manufacturing competitiveness.

Established in 2012 and based in Youngstown, Ohio, America Makes is the flagship Institute for the Manufacturing USA infrastructure of up to 45 Institutes to follow and is driven by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM).

What is InnoCentive?

InnoCentive is the global innovation marketplace where creative minds solve some of the world's most important problems for cash awards up to $1 million. Commercial, governmental and humanitarian organizations engage with InnoCentive to solve problems that can impact humankind in areas ranging from the environment to medical advancements.

What is a Theoretical-Licensing Challenge?

An InnoCentive Theoretical Challenge builds upon an idea but is not yet a proof of concept. A solution to a Theoretical Challenge will solidify the Solver's concept with detailed descriptions, specifications and requirements necessary to bringing a good idea closer to becoming an actual product or service.

This Challenge is a Theoretical-Licensing Challenge, meaning that the Seeker is requesting non-exclusive rights to use the winning solution. By contrast, Theoretical-IP Transfer means that Solvers must relinquish all rights to the Intellectual Property (IP) for which they are awarded. For these forms of a Theoretical Challenge, Solvers that do not win retain the rights to their solution after the evaluation period is complete. The Seeker retains no rights to any IP not awarded.